Minimal/Lyrical: Modern String Quartets

February 16 | 7:00 pm

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Join Musiqa for an evening of dynamic, modern string quartets including Nico Muhly’s “Diacritical Marks,” a work of small gestures with references to Philip Glass and Björk, at times energetic and driving and at times rhapsodic and lyrical; String Quartet No. 2 by Michael Nyman, a set of driving, rhythmic miniatures inspired by South Indian dance; and “Lonely Suite (“Ballet for a Lonely Violinist”)” by Lera Auerbach, a moving and theatrical piece for solo violin.

Michael Nyman is a composer, pianist, librettist, writer, musicologist, photographer and film-maker whose work encompasses opera, concert music and film soundtracks of which The Draughtsman’s Contract and The Piano are the best-known. Since founding the Michael Nyman Band in 1977, which tours the world, he has worked with leading film directors and has collaborated with artists such as Mary Kelly, Damon Albarn, Carsten Nicolai and the recent Oscar winning Man on Wire star Phillippe Petit. An exhibition of his photographs and video-works was recently shown at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill and more exhibitions are planned. His music is available via an extensive range of recordings on his own label, MN Records.

Nico Muhly (b.1981) is an American composer and sought-after collaborator whose influences range from American minimalism to the Anglican choral tradition. The recipient of commissions from The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and others, he has written more than 80 works for the concert stage, including the opera Marnie (2017).
Muhly is a frequent collaborator with choreographer Benjamin Millepied and, as an arranger, has paired with Sufjan Stevens, Antony and the Johnsons and others. His work for stage and screen include music for the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie and scores for films including the Academy Award- winning The Reader. Born in Vermont, Muhly studied composition at the Juilliard School before working as an editor and conductor for Philip Glass. He is part of the artist-run record label Bedroom Community, which released his first two albums, Speaks Volumes (2006) and Mothertongue (2008). He lives in New York City.

Music @ The Meeting House is a community concert series of First Congregational Church of Houston.

This program was made possible, in part, by funding from Mid-America Arts Alliance.